The premiere of “Smyrna My Beloved” (ΣΜYΡΝΗ ΜΟΥ ΑΓΑΠΗMEΝΗ) took place in the Opera House of Damascus, Syria recently on occasion of the inaugural Greek Cultural Month.
The Greek Ambassador in Syria Mr Nicolas Protonotarios opened the event with the following speech:
“Your Eminences, dear Excellencies and distinguished guests,
“It is an honour to receive you today at the start of the Greek Cultural Month in Syria, which comprises three events. Film screenings are in Damascus, Aleppo and Tartous, a musical concert by Greek bouzouki soloist-composer Michael Paouris, and Greek fine dining at the Golden Mazzeh Hotel.
“The establishment of a Greek Cultural Month is based on our fervent wish to reinvigorate our longstanding cultural ties with Syria that go back in time for millennia. Let us not forget, for example, that the names of some important Syrian cities, such as Lattakia and Tartous, are, in fact, Greek.
“The film we are about to see also has a historical context.
“It essentially commemorates the centenary of one of the terrible tragedies in our region: the destruction of Smyrna in 1922 by the Turkish forces and the genocide of the Greek and Greek-orthodox community there.
“On this note, we should never forget how the many ethnic and religious minorities fleeing from the Turkish atrocities at the turn of the last century found safe haven and welcoming communities in many Syrian towns and became a vibrant part of the multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and secular country of Syria.
“Before we begin enjoying this screening, please allow me to sincerely thank our Greek sponsors, Raffoul Development and Tanweer Productions, and, of course, the Ministry of Culture and the Damascus Opera House, who have made this event possible.”
READ MORE: Greek Cultural Month in Syria – February 2024.
